Mute for violins



April 23, 1940. H. VAN HAM MUTE FOR VIOLINS Filed April 25. 1339 'IHIIIIIHIHHH v Harr y.Z.VanHqm ATTO R N IYS Patented Apr. 23, 1940 PATENT OFFICE MUTE FOR VIOLIN S Harry L. Van Ham,

West Roxbury, Mass.

Application April 25, 1939, Serial No. 270,001

2 Claims.

The invention relates to a sound control attachment for string musical instruments and more particularly to a mute for a violin.

The primary object of the invention is the pro- 5 vision of a mute of this character, wherein the same can be worn on the strings of a violin or the like and is susceptible of being moved for varying the tone or sound qualities of the strings required in the playing of music, the mute being novel in its make-up and in the attachment thereof to the instrument.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a mute of this character, wherein the same is attached between the tail piece and the bridge of the musical instrument, particularly a violin, viola or cello and is susceptible of hand manipulation for tone variation in the playing of the strings of the instrument.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a mute of this character, which is extremely simple in its construction, thoroughly reliable and efficient in operation, readily and easily applied to and removed from a musical instrument of the string type, being possessed of few parts yet strong, durable, and inexpensive to manufacture and install.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as 30 will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which discloses the preferred embodiment of the invention and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawing: 35 Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a violin showing the mute constructed in accordance with the invention attached.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevation.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the mute in an adjusted position.

Figure 4 is a sectional view on the line 44 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical transverse sectional view through the mute.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawing.

Referring to the drawing in detail, A designates generally a portion of a string musical instrument exemplified as a violin and includes as is customary a tail piece I0, bridge II and strings l2, respectively, these being adjustable and played in the usual manner. attached to the strings I! between the tail piece and the bridge II is a mute constituting the present invention and hereinafter fully described.

The mute comprises block-like lower and upper sections l3 and I4, respectively, these being joined superposed relative to each other in matched relation by a screw l5, which is passed Adapted to be through the upper section l4 and threaded into the lower section l3. The sections [3 and I4 at their faces next to each other in the connected manner by the screw carry felt pieces I6, the strings if being trained between the said sections and the pieces l6 having contact therewith. The mute including the sections l3 and H is adjustable toward and away from the bridge H for sound control purposes.

The section I3 is formed with a beveled face l1 next to the bridge H and this face wears a felt covering I8 adapted for contact with the bridge when the mute has been adjusted in close relation thereto. The mute when contacting with the bridge deadens the sound of selected strings of the musical instrument for muting purposes while on movement of the mute in the direction of the tail piece I0 the natural tone qualities of the strings affected by said mute are returned to normalcy, giving forth natural tone or sound qualities. The mute is hand adjustable and is to be permanently worn by the musical instrument in the manner as hereinbefore stated.

The mute including the sections 13 and M can be made from wood, Bakelite or any other material. It is preferable to have the pieces 16 made from leather and areadhesively joined to the said sections while the covering I8 is preferably made from felt or the like.

What is claimed is:

1. A mute for a stringed musical instrument having a tail piece and bridge for the strings thereof, comprising a narrow sectional body entirely free of the tail piece and bridge and wholly suspended by selected strings on engagement between the sections of said body, cushioning pieces permanently fastened to the sections of the body at confronting faces thereof for contact with the selected strings, and a second pad permanently carried at one side face of one section of the body for making contact with the bridge of the instrument. 1

2. A mute for a stringed musical instrument having a tail piece and bridge for the strings thereof, comprising a narrow sectional body entirely free of the tail piece and bridge and wholly suspended by selected strings on engagement between the sections of said body, cushioning pieces permanently fastened to the sections of the body at confronting faces thereof for contact with the selected strings, a second pad permanently carried at one side face of one section of the body for making contact with the bridge of the instrument, and a fastener engaging the sections of the body for adjustably connecting these sections together and the frictional clamping of selected strings between said sections.

1 HARRY L. VAN HAM. 

